Embassy of Sri Lanka in Rome

Mr. Fabrizio ARPEA, Ambassador Designate of the Republic of Italy to Sri Lanka pays a courtesy call on H.E. Mr. Hemantha WARNAKULASURIYA, Ambassador of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka to Italy, at his residence - Rome, 11.02.2011

Go Sri Lanka: Sri Lanka gave us the word serendipity. Now back on the tourist map at the end of two decades of strife, it's a place where a short train journey brings you from ivory beaches to lush hill country, writes TOM FARRELL

IT IS TEMPTING to think of Sri Lanka as little more than an island offshoot of India. It appears as such on the map: a precious stone in the Indian Ocean, just east of the point where its huge neighbour tapers into the tropical seas.

PIC: Relaxing by the sea. Photographs: Getty

But Sri Lanka (traditionally Ceylon) looks, smells and sounds different. I have been making trips there since the 1990s, and for me, it retains a profound sense of otherness.

The smuggling syndicates lost the lucrative business of arms when the war ended in Sri Lanka so they switched to human cargo, using the expertise and government contacts they had developed, stated Jason Kenney, Canada's Minister of Citizenship and Immigration."We know that there are three or four syndicates, each of which had developed an area of expertise in smuggling contraband in Southeast Asia in general, but more particularly contraband armaments to the LTTE in northern Sri Lanka," he told The National Post.

The 2011 World Cup has a special significance for Sri Lanka. It will be the island nation's last chance to see Muttiah Muralidharan bounding in with his unique bowling action. The world's highest wicket-taker, standing in the sunset years of his international career, will call it quits after the Cup. And the Lankans are eagerly hoping if Murali can weave his magic one last time in a rerun of their 1996 World Cup glory.

"He (Murali) will make a huge impact to the side and also to the tournament. He has the experience to influence the team and, after all, he knows what it takes to win the World Cup," Sri Lankan chief-selector and member of the 1996 World Cup-winning team, Aravinda de Silva, told The Telegraph.

Oil drilling in Sri Lanka's Mannar Basin will commence in July this year, Cairn India said.

"Frontier exploration drilling in the SL 2007-01-001 block in Sri Lanka is planned to commence in July 2011. A drill ship has been contracted and logistical preparations and detailed studies are ongoing ahead of drilling later this year" releasing its third quarter interim results for the period ending December 31, 2010 Cairn India said.

By Charitha Fernando

Sri Lanka Whale Film Planned

Award winning author Phillip Hoare and underwater videographer Andrew Sutton is working on a film featuring whales in the waters surrounding Sri Lanka and also explore the Island nation, its people and culture. "We are very keen to expand the themes we have been exploring while filming whales into a greater picture of what Sri Lanka holds for the world and what the world holds for Sri Lanka," Hoare said. "There has been such a way that Sri Lanka has been portrayed in the media outside which is probably frustrating to Sri Lankans"

NEW DELHI: A star-studded line-up and a shrewd captain make Sri Lanka favourites to win the World Cup a second time in the sub-continent, having done it in 1996 to spark a cricketing renaissance in the Island nation. Most of the players of this generation in Sri Lanka took to cricket inspired by that famous victory of Arjuna Ranatunga's team. Muttiah Muralitharan is the lone survivor from that team. The veteran off-spinner, who holds the record for the highest number of Test as well as one-day wickets, has already announced that he would hang up his boots after the World Cup.